Satellite News

ISRO said it has successfully completed the hot test of cryogenic engine for the GSLV-F11, which is scheduled to launch GSAT-7A in November this year.

The Horizons 3e telecommunications satellite has been fuelled at the Spaceport in French Guiana, readying it for the 100th launch of a heavy-lift Ariane 5 – which also will carry the Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38 relay platform on this milestone Arianespace flight planned for 25 September.

The two science orbiters of the joint ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission are connected in their launch configuration and the European science orbiter and transport module have been given the go-ahead to be loaded with propellants.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and JAXA announced the launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 40 (H-IIA F40) from Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the JAXA Tanegashima Space Center on 29 October (UTC).

Rocket: Chang Zheng-3B/Y1; Payload: Beidou-3M11, Beidou-3M12 [Beidou-35, Beidou-36]; Date: 24 August 2018, 2352 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The twin satellites entered Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) orbit more than three hours after the launch.

The U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Directorate achieved a major programme milestone on 21 August successfully delivering the first GPS III satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida to begin launch processing.

China will launch its first solid-propellant rocket developed by a Chinese private company late this year.

Rocket: Vega; Payload: Aeolus; Date: 22 August 2018, 2119 UTC; Launch site: Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite was deployed into Sun-synchronous orbit 55 minutes after lift-off. Acquisition of satellite telemetry was confirmed about 15 minutes later.